John emery go wen



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

J. E. GOWEN. LEAK STOPPER FOR SHIPS.

N0. 503,079.v Patented Aug. 8, 1893.

(No ModeLy 4 2 sheets-Sheet 2. J. E. GOWEN.

LEAK STOPPE R FOR SHIPS I Pate'nted Aug. 8} 1893. l 11 i I2,

- of the same.

UNITED STATES? PATENT ()FFICE.

JOHN EMERYGOWEN, on PARIS, FRANCE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 503,079, dated August 8, 1893.

Application filed January 25, 1893, Serial No. 459,688. (No model.) Patented in France June 28, 1 892,ll'o. 222,640, and in I England June 29, 1892,110. 12,113.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JOHN EMERY GOWEN,

gentleman, residing at 84 Rue'LauristOn,

Paris, France, have invented a certain new and useful Improvementin Leak-Stoppers for Ships; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description My invention (for which I have obtained Letters Patent in France, No. 222,640, dated June 28, 1892, and in Great'Britain, No. 12,113,

dated June 29, 1892) has for its Object to pros.

vide means for enabling shot-holes'in iron clads or other vessels to be rapidly plugged:

with ease and cheapness during a naval c0n', fiict or at other times. The purpose of the plug is to arrest the inflow of water into the man-of-war or other Vessel.

My improvements relate to that class of leak-stoppers which are first collapsed and then introduced through the shot-hole, after which they are unfolded and the obturating medium laid out flat against-the outer wall of the iron-clad or other vessel.

My improved leak-stopper is shown in the a isa portion of an armor-plating through which a shot-hole is supposed to have been made and which it is desired to plug. The shot, in this particular case, is supposed to have made a relatively clean holethrough the armor without in any way distorting the latter, so that the outer edge of the holeyin the armor remaining level with the face of the armor, a stopper formed ofa disk of soft india-rubber can be used as a means of plugging the shot-hole. The stopper is mainly composed of a rod 1) one end of which is reduced ili'diameter on a certainportion of its length while the opposite end is screw-threadedat cl Againstthe shoulder d of the rod 12 is loosely laid a metal disk e and over the disk e rests a disk of soft india-rubber f, which is somewhat recessed at g at or about the center, as shown in Fig. 2. Over the rubber disk f is placed a sleeve h having lugs in armor a, as shown in Fig. 2.

which are vfitted pins 2'. On each pin qlis pivoted an arm j. Four similar arms j are shown in Fig. 3, but thisnumber may vary. Each arm j is loosely connected to the rubber disk f by means of a clip is (see enlarged scale Fig. 4:) the two lugs Z, Z of which are sunk into therubber disk f, and fastened by means of bolts m to a narrow strip of plate of metal n, likewise sunk into the disk f,but

on the Opposite side thereof. The opening 0 of the clip 70 is engaged loosely by the arm j,

so that the latter can dispose of a certain amount of play in the said opening 0, as the stopper is being folded or unfolded. The sleeve is held in place by a metal or other disk 1) which is secured on the rod 17 by means of a nut q and a washer r. The rod 1) is provided with one or more rings 8 by means of which the stopper can be suspended while being introduced. Over the screw-threaded end of the rod 12 is passed a bearing bracket tthe e nds of which'are serrated and bear against the inside wall u of the vessel. An operating handle 1; is screwed onto the end of the rod.

The operation is as follows: The rod 17 being provided with the rubber disk f and parts appertaining thereto, is introduced from the inside of the vessel through the shothole to be plugged, during which introduction therubber disk f will yield according to the size of the hole, as illustrated in Fig. 1. After the stopper has entirely passed through the hole the rubber disk f assu mes its original flat position again and is applied against the The brackett and the; operating handle Q) are thereupon placed upon the rod b, the serrated ends of the bracket bearing against the inner wall to of the vessel. On screwing the handle 2;, the rubber disk f will be firmly pressed against the armor a and obturate the shot-hole.

I claim In a leak-stopper, a rod 12, a bracket 25 and an operating handle 1;, in combination with a collapsible rubber disk f secured to' pivoted arms j by means of clips in bolts m and strips 41., substantially as described andshown.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 30th day of December, 1892.

v JOHN EMERY GOWEN.

Witnesses:

R. H. BRANDON, E. A. BRANDON. 

